DUSHANBE, January 26, 2013, Asia-Plus — Egyptian protesters scuffled with police in Cairo on Saturday and troops were deployed in Suez after nine people were shot dead in nationwide protests against President Mohamed Mursi, exposing deep rifts two years after Hosni Mubarak was ousted, Reuters reported o January 26.
After a day of clashes on Friday, tension reportedly remained high with a court expected to rule later on Saturday in a case against suspects accused of involvement in a stadium disaster that killed 74 people. Fans have threatened violence if the court does not deliver the justice they seek.
Eight people including a policeman were shot dead in Suez, east of the capital, and another was shot and killed in Ismailia, another city on the Suez Canal, medics said, after a day when police fired tear gas at stone-throwing youths.
Another 456 people were injured across Egypt, officials said, in Friday”s unrest fuelled by anger at Mursi and his Islamist allies over what the protesters see as their betrayal of the revolution that erupted on January 25, 2011.
The protests and violence have laid bare the divide between the Islamists and their secular rivals. The schism is hindering the efforts of Mursi, elected in June, to revive an economy in crisis and reverse a plunge in Egypt”s currency by enticing back investors and tourists.
Protesters accuse Mursi and his Islamist allies of hijacking Egypt”s revolution that ended 30 years of Mubarak”s autocratic rule.
Mursi”s supporters say their critics are ignoring democratic principles after elections swept Islamists to office.
Street battles erupted in cities including Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and Port Said. Arsonists attacked at least two state-owned buildings. An office used by the Muslim Brotherhood”s political party was also torched.
The Brotherhood decided against mobilizing for the anniversary, wary of the scope for more conflict after December”s violence, stoked by Mursi”s decision to fast-track an Islamist-tinged constitution rejected by his opponents.
Inspired by the popular uprising in Tunisia, Egypt”s revolution spurred further revolts across the Arab world. But the sense of common purpose that united Egyptians two years ago has given way to internal strife that already triggered bloody street battles last month.
